Explosive turbine-engine.



G. D. EIGHMIE..

xPLoslvE TURBINE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11| 1916.

Lpl Patented Jun@ 19, 1917.

- To all whom it may large power in a small engine.

GEOEGE D. EIGHMIE, or NEW Yonx, NQY.

ExrLosIvE 'rUEBINE-ENGINE.

negarse.

concern:

Be it known thatI, GEORGE D. ErGHMrE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Explosive Turbine-Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention refers to explosive turbineengines. The object thereof is to furnish a motor of the turbine type operated by the explosions of a gaseous mixture, but simple in construction, having only a few parts, which are related to each other in a convenient and effective way so as to develop l The invention consists essentially in certain improve: ments upon the explosive turbine engine described and claimed in my Letters Patent dated June 20, 1916, No. 1,187,515, for explosive turbine engines; and the invention also comprises numerous details and peculiar-ities in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and then more fully pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved rotary explosive turbine vengine "on the line 1, 1 of Fig. 2. 1

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line 2, 2 of Fig. 1. l

Fig. 3 is a conventional bottom or inside sectional plan or development looking from l the inside of the engine of the rings which form the circular valves between the explosion chamber and the turbine blades.

Fig. 4 is a conventional development looking from the inside of the engine of the rings which form the valves 4between the mixing chamber and the explosion chamber, the same being laid out in a straight bottom plan so as to indicate their relation more clearly.

Fig. 5 is an inside view of a development of a modified form of the valves shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section on the line 6, 6 of Fig. 5.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the'different figures of the drawing. v

1 denotes the main horizontal shaft which is hollow and is provided with inlet ports 2 vSpecification of Letters Patent.v Pali-@nigga Application mea January 11, 191e.

4cated in the drawings,

, rotary cylinder from the inlet Serial No. 71,422.

through which theexplosive mixture com.- lng from any suitable carbureting or other source through the hollow shaft is directed into the interior of the ,mixing chamber 3.

There may'obviously be any number of turbine wheels applying their power to the same central rotary shaft 1. I have indihowever, only one of these wheels, as the whole invention can be just as easily explained with one as with several, it being understood that the one serves merely as an example andthat it may be debe multiplied as many times as may sirable. This wheel consists' 'of a narrow hub 5 bolted or otherwise firmly secured to the shaft y-1, and a second adjacent flanged disk 6 which is stationary, shaft 1 to pass through it with a ball bearing 7 arranged between them so that the shaft 1 may easily rotate within said disk 6, such rotation being the result of the rotary action of the disk'4 in consequence of the explosions within the turbine wheel. The stationary disk 6 is securely bolted or otherwise fastened at its bottom pedestal 8 to a- -suitable foundation 9. Between the disks 4'and 6 is the mixing or pressure chamber` 3 into which the gas or explosive mixture passes ports 2.

The revolving disk 4 is provided with a series of curved greater` or less length, which are preferably integral with the disk 4 and have a width substantially equal to the space 3. Between the disks 4 and 6these fan blades revolve .rune ie, ier?. i

or flanged disk 4 having a but permits the rapidly and the suction created thereby it may have a slight width at this point, to another point where its width is nearly equal to the width of the mixing chamber 3, or the distance between the two disks 4 and 6. The

varying width of this flange 11 is shown 1n the bottom or inside plan development of the same, which I have indicated in Fig. 4. The shape of this flange is, therefore, triangular, the base of the triangle being very short in comparison with the sides and the triangle' being a right-angled triangle.- Closely contiguous to thetriangular flange 11 is a simi- 6 is provided at a.

` the -duration of the time overlap lar triangular flange 12 made integral with the revolving disk 4 and overlapping or being overlapped by the flange 1l, the degree.

explosive mixture passes from. the mixingchamber when this valve 1s open and enters' the explosion chamber 13 where it is ignited by a spark from one or more spark plugs 14 or other ignition devices, By referring to Fig. 4 the relation between the two flanges l1 and 12 is more clearly seen as the :flanges are there laid out flat. Since flange 11 is stationary, while flange 12 revolves in contact therewith, it is obvious that the edges of these valves will separate during each revolution, opening wider and wider until the point is reached where the widest part of each flange overlaps thecnarrowest part of the other flange, at which time the valve will be temporarily closed. With a valve constructed in this way the duration of the opening may be considerably longer thanv the time during which it is closed, but the opening takes place gradually owing to the inclination of the edges of the valve members, v and closesgradually when the parts butit will be understood -that by making the narrow ends of the triangular flanges Wider or the wider ends narrower, or by doing both, and providing that the overlapping or closed condition of the flanges should continue for a longer time,

shortened and the quantity of the explosive mixture passed through the valve during its opening may be lessened, or in other words, by properly parts the timing'of their operation may be regulated to correspond with the requirelaid out flat,

ments of the engine in practice.

The 'stationary disk 6 is also provided at its outer periphery with another cylindrical flange 15 which is similar to the flange 11 excepting as shown in Fig. 3, of a single right-angled circumference, it consists of two rightangled triangles arranged tandem to each other, as shown at 16,16 in Fig.'3, so as to provide two halves instead of one, each valve being similar to the valve composed of the triangular flanges 11 and 12. The revolving disk 4 is provided at a uous to the flange 15 lwith a similar ange 17, which is similar also to the flange 12, except that instead of being through its en- .will be observed that the of opening may be proportioning and relating the' that instead of consisting when triangle extending the entire .carry withit the hollow point closely contigtire length a single right-angled triangle, it is made in the formof two right-angled triangles arranged tandem as shown at 18,

18. These two triangular flanges 16 are overlapped to a greater or less extent b the edges of the triangular sections 18, 18 of the contiguous flange 17. Hence, two valves are provided in this way which open and1 close successively, the degree of opening being in proportion to the size and relative ,arrangement of the flanges and the .extent of their overlapping, the whole arrangement andpoperation being similar to that of the inlet valve which admits the mixture to the explosive chamber, while these outer peripheral Hanges serve as exwill be directed against the inclined vanes or blades 20 of the flange 19 carried by the revolving disk 4, as I have said, thereby imparting a rotary motion to said disk, and consequently to the shaft 1 to which it is attached.

The operation of my improved explosive engine will be evident from the foregoing description of the .construction and arrangement of the various mechanical details without the need` of additional explanation, It ports 2 are always open to admi-t air and gas through the hol- 4low shaftv 1 into the interior chamber 3'. where it will be drawn of the fan blades 10. Immediately after the engine is started and the inlet valve consist.- ing of the triangular flanges begins to operate, charges of the explosive mixture will be successively introduced into the explosion chamber 13, and at the proper moment de! termined by the timing of the sparking d'evices each charge will be fired and as the exhaust valves successively open at the outside of the explosion chamber 13, the force of the explosion will act against the exterior vanes 20, causing the disk 4 to rotate and thereby actuating any which said shaft may be connected. Obviously the exhaust of the explosions will take place between the vanes or blades 20 into the outer air, while. the force of said explosions is imparting motion to the rotary disk 4. l

mechanism with in by the suction l central shaft l,

lt will be obvious that I am notv to be restricted to a single inlet valve in assothe valve flange valves by simply increasing in the same' flanges the number of triangular sections 11 and 12 of which the inlet valves are composed, and similarly the number of exhaust valves need not be confined to two as I have indicated in the specimen illustration of the invention given here by way of example, but by increasing the number of triangular sections 16 and 18 of the flanges 15'and 17 I can obviously increase the number of valves and modify the operation accordingly. It will be clear, therefore, that in building these engines for actual use, the duty required of them will be taken into account in the provision of the number of valves and ignition devices and their relative location, operation and timing.

In Fig. 5 I have indicated a modification of my invention which resides in omitting 17 on the rotary disk 4 and informing vanes or blades 20 in the peripheral flange 19 so that they will be arranged in two or more triangular series, corresponding in number to the exhaust valves used in the particular engine, these vanes 20n being separated by slots which vary in' length from those running almost the entire width ofthe flange 19 down to a point Where they are very small, the series being triangular as stated and as clearly shown in Fig. 5. Thus the valves in this modification consist of a flange having a series of slots varying in size so that the whole line of them is arranged in triangular form,'and being cut from the edge of the flange 19 inwardly in this manner, and the flange 15 which is formed in the same manner as before with sections of triangular form which overlap the triangular series of slots and opg crate to uncover these slots in the same manner as in Fig. 3, and the flanges 15 and 17 are released from each other in opening and closing the valves, the effect and result being obviously substantially the same.

It will be notedthat various changes in the precise structure of the several parts may be made without exceeding the scope of the invention or affecting the value of the claims, and I, therefore, reserve the-lib-l erty not only of changing the number and arrangement of the inlet and outlet valves as already suggested, but also of making allv other desirable changes as experience may prove to be wise and expedient.

Raving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,- A,

1. In an interna-l combustion engine, a

pair of disks, one revolving and one stationary, between which there is a central mixing chamber and a circumferential explosion chamber, the revolving disk carrying a series of fan blades in the mixing chamber and valve for allowing from the fan into the explosion chaming a series of fan 4ber and at its periphery a series of vanes, an inlet the explosive mixture to pass ber, said valve consisting of overlapping triangularly-shaped flanges, one on the staltionary disk and one on the revolving disk Whose edges engage and disengage so as to open a passage at times and close it at other times, and a valve between the explosion chamber and the peripheral vanes, by means of which the force of the explosion acts against/the vanes and imparts a lrotary motion to the revolving disk. y

2. In `an internal combustion engine, a pair of disks, one -revolving and onev stationary, betweenwi1ich there is al central mixing chamber and a circumferential explosion chamber, the revolving disk carry-4 bladesin themxing chami at its outerperiphery a series of vanes, an inlet valve for allowing the exv plosive mixture topass from the fan intov the explos1on chamber, said valve consisting of concentric flanges, one on the stationary disk and one on the revolving disk,lwhose disk said edges will separate at times to provide a passage and will come together at other times to close the passage, and a valve between the explosion chamber and the peripheral vanes, by means of which the force of the explosion acts against the vanes and impiarts a rotary motion to the revolving 3. In an internal combustion engine, a pair of disks, one revolving and one stationary, between. which disks there is a mixing chamber near the center and an explosion chamber near the circumference, therevolving disk having peripheral vanes outside of the explosion chamber, an inlet valve for allowing the explosive mixture to pass from the mixing chamber into the explosion chamber and consisting of angular flanges, one on the stationary disk and one on the revolving disk, whose edges engage and disengage so as to open a passage at times and close it at other times, and an exhaust valve between the explosion chamber and the pel ripheral vanes, and 'consisting of angular flanges, one on the stationary disk and one on the revolving disk, whose edges enga-ge and disengage so as to allow a passage to be opened t times and closed at .other times, whereby.la the force of the explosions may be exerted against the peripheral vanes to'impart rotary motion to the revolving disk.

4. In an internal combustion engine, a pair of disks arranged parallel to each other, one revolving and one stationary, .the revolving disk carrying a series of fan blades, Y Y

and at its outer periphery a series lof vanes,

-an inlet valve for allowing the explosive iso lplosion chamber, -said valve means consist- .ing o'f a flange on the stationary disk and a contiguous `flange on the revolving disk,

i valve pair of disks,

the edges of which flanges separate at times so as to provide a passage between them, an exhaust valve vmeans between which and the inlet valve means is the explosion chamber, said exhaust valve means consisting of a flange onthe stationary disk contiguous to the outer vanes of the revolving disk, and also a flange on the revolving disk, the edges of which flanges separate at times to provide a passage between \them through which the force of the explosion may act against the turbine vanes and then exhaust to atmosphere.

5. In a 'rotary explosive engine, the combination of a revolving disk, having a peripheral flange formed with vanes, andhaving also a series of fan blades, astationary disk parallel to the revolving disk and between which and the revolving disk is a central mixing chamber and a circumferential explosion chamber, an inlet valve between the mixingchamber and the explosion chamber consisting of cylindrical voverlapping iangesfone on the revolving disk and one on the stationary disk, each flange consisting of one or more triangular sections whose edges engage and disengage soas tol open a passage at times and close it at other times,.and an exhaust valve between the explosion chamber and the peripheral vanes and consisting of overlapping cylindrical flanges, one on the stationary disk and one on the revolving disk, Vand each Bange having one or'more triangular sections whose edges engage and disengage so as to open passages at times and close them' at other times. 'K I 6. In an internal combustion engine, .a

one 'revolving .and one stationary, the revolving disk having a peripheral cylindrical flange formed withvanes and having also ar series of fan blades, an inlet for allowing the explosive mixture to pass from the fan into the explosion chamber, said valve consisting of overlapping flanges on the disks, the edges of which flanges are inclined to the plane of the disks so as to move toward ,and away from ,each other to open and close a passage, and valve mechanism between the explosion chamber and the peripheral vanes consisting likewise of overlapping flanges on the disks, the edges of which flanges are inclined to the plane of the disks so as to move toward and away from each other to open a'passage at times and' close it at other times.

7. In an internal combustion engine,.a pair of disks, one revolving and one Stationary, between which there is a central 4 mixing chamber and a circumferential explosion chamber, the revolving diskhaving lperipheral vanes and also a series of fan blades in the mixing chamber, an inlet valve mechanism between the mixing chamber and the explosion chamber, and an exhaust 4valve mechanism between the explosion chamber and the peripheral vanes, said latter mechanism consisting of overlapping flanges, the edges of which flanges have one or more sections whose edges are inclined to the plane of the disks to that during the revolution of the wheel said edges will sepavanes so as to impart rotary motion to the revolving disk.

8. In an internal combustion engine, a pair of disks, one revolving and one stationary, between which there is a central mixing'chamber and a circumferential ex- 85 plosion chamber, the revolving disk carrying a series of fan blades in the mixing chamber and at its outer periphery a series of vanes, an inlet valve for allowing the explosive mixture to pass from the fan into the explosion chamber, said valve consisting of overlapping triangularly-'shaped flanges, one on the stationary disk and one on the revolving disk whose edges engage and disengage so as t0 open a passage at times and 95 close it at other times, and a valve between the explosion chamber and the peripheral vanes, by means of which theforce of the explosion acts against the vanes and imparts a rotary motion to the revolving disk, and

a hollow shaft having ports leading into the mixing chamber, to which shaft the revolving dlsk isl secured for the purpose of im- .parting motion thereto as it revolves. h 9. In a rotary explosive engine, the combination of a revolving disk, having a peripheral flange formed w'th vanes, and having also a series of fan blades, a stationary disk parallell to the revolving disk and between which and the revolving disk is a central mixing chamber and a circumferential explosion chamber, an inlet valve between the mixing chamber and the explosion chamber consisting of cylindrical overlapping flanges, one on the revolving disk and one on the stationary disk, each flange consisting of one or more triangularsections whose edges engage and disengage so as to open a passage at times and close it at other times,

explosion and an exhaust valve between the chamber and the peripheral vanes and consisting of overlapping cylindrical flanges, one on the stationary disk and one on the revolving disk, and each flange having one or more triangular sections whose edges engage and disengage so as tol open passages at times and close them at other times, and

a hollow shaft having ports leading into the mixing chamber7 'to which shaft the revolving disk is attached, together with ignition means in the explosion chamber.

10. In an internal combustion engine, la pair of disks forming a wheel, one disk revolving and one stationarybetween which there is a central mixing' chamber and a circumferential explosion chamber, the revolving disk carrying a series of fan blades in the mixing chamber and at its outer periphery av series of vanas, a hollow shaft having ports leading' into the mixing chamber, to which shaft the revolving disk is secured, an inlet valve for allowing the explosive mixture to pass from the fan into the explosion chamber, said valve consisting of cylindrical flanges whose edges are parallel to each other and inclined from one end to the other,. the angle of inclination being acute to the plane ofthe disk so that during' lthe revolution of the wheel, the edges will separate at times topro'vicle a passage for the mixture from the mixing chamber into the'explosion chamber and will come `to gether at other times to close said passage,

and exhaust valve mechanism between the charges of the mixture are red.

In testimony whereof l aix my signature.

. GEORGE D. EIGE.

v,explosion chamber and the peripheral vanes a flanges, sha ed the edges of the anges" the plane of the disk and 1" so that during their 

